EDEN I felt like a doll. Raven and three other women had come into my room a few minutes after Roman left. I was still standing there looking like a frightened child when they walked in. They scrubbed, cleaned and shaved every part of my body. It was like I had dirt even where I didn't know there could be dirt. And they cleaned it because I felt squeaky clean after. I just sat there and let them do their thing because I couldn't even argue. The realization that I had fallen into a trap that I couldn't get out of was hitting me by the minute and I couldn’t form two words in my head to say to anyone. With the way I was being pushed and pulled, I could feel the baby bouncing inside me. The baby. One thing that troubled me even more than what was going on was the fact that whenever I referred to the baby, I always called her a she. Roman doesn't want a daughter. What was j going to do if the baby turned out to be a girl? He'd kill me. I was sure of it. “I’ll come back tomo
EDEN I jolted awake some hours after. The clock in front of me read ten minutes past twelve. What to do? I ran to the window to check if the people I had seen earlier were still outside arranging things for the wedding but it was empty, they had all gone to bed. Everyone had gone to sleep. This was the perfect time to make my move. I was sure the guards were still outside my door so first, I had to go past them first. Roman thought he was punishing me when he forced that ring into my finger last night.“You had better make sure it's a boy. Or else, you die.” I nodded my head quickly.I'd always known the things I said would get me into trouble but I never thought that it'd be this soon. “The wedding is tomorrow. It would be in your best interest to shut your mouth and do as you're told. If you dare embarrass me…” I knew what he was going to say. I would die He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box. He held up a ring with a moderately big diamond and threw i
EDENI should have taken a flashlight or something that would bring light. Now that I was in the woods, I had to stretch out my arms so I wouldn't bump into a tree. The moonlight was bright but I had poor eyesight so I still needed extra help. The woods were very thick and dark and coupled with the fact that I was afraid of the dark, things weren't looking very good right now. But I couldn't stop for any reason. I had to keep walking as fast as I could because if anyone found out that I was no longer at the house, Roman would hear it in a heartbeat and he would send every guard he had after me. I made the mistake of not running away once, it wasn't going to happen again.I picked up my pace to avoid the chances of me being caught. I heard a twig snap behind me but when I turned around to check, there was no one there. All the more reason I had to pick up the pace. Everything in me had a feeling I was going to get caught but I tried to put that thought at the back of mind. It wa
EDEN My feet were hurting so bad that I wanted to peel the skin off and hang them to rest. I'd been walking since I got out of Roman's pack last night and now, it was already late afternoon. They would probably have found out that I was missing since the wedding was supposed to take place early in the morning. I didn't even want to think about how furious Roman would be. He would probably be turning the entire pack upside down looking for me. Hopefully, those guards at the border don't say anything so it would buy me some time to get farther away. I hadn't eaten anything and my stomach was grumbling so bad that I could barley even walk again. The sun was very high in the sky, causing my journey to get even more uncomfortable. Earlier this morning, I'd puked the little contents that my stomach was trying to hold on to. Now, I was like a walking tank waiting to be filled. Hopefully, I'd come across a town real soon so that I'll be able to sell this damn ring and get somethin
EDENToday was the last day of my stay in this hotel. As soon as I left that town, I found a car that was going farther away into another town so I followed it. I needed to get farther and farther away from where Roman could track me down. I couldn't leave breadcrumbs for him to follow. The drive was four hours away from the other town. I thought about a way to get out of this city. If I used a bus, he'd be able to trace me and that was the last thing I wanted. The only other way out was a plane. Unfortunately, I didn't have a passport. Slaves didn't exactly need passports because I wasn't exactly going anywhere any time soon.Or so I thought.So, that option too failed. My stomach suddenly grumbled, reminding me that my baby hadn't eaten. As I looked up, I saw a restaurant right in front of me. I was grateful I had cash. That way, even if he wanted to trace my card, he wouldn't be able to. I'd change my name and my appearance. I'd get a new apartment and everything would be dif
ROMAN It was already getting dark and those fools hadn't come back yet. I already knew what they were going to tell me when they got back and I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want to hear that that little girl had outsmarted the people I put in charge of my kingdom’s defense. And had escaped not only the guards at her door, but the guards at the front of the house, the guards in front of the gate and the guards at the border. I knew how tight the security at the border was because I had tested it out at some point by myself so how in the world did she get past them? Imagine waking up and getting ready to get married only to hear that your bride was missing? How embarrassed I was in front of all those guests can not be over emphasized.The caliber of people I had invited to my wedding, to make a point and get some allies, only to hear the fool I had decided to marry had snuck out in the middle of the night. And absolutely no one in this damn house saw her. I should have seen rig
ROMANI stared down at Elena’s exhausted form, breathing heavily on my bed, my face contorted in anger and disbelief.“You should leave,” I said as I bent down to pick up my clothes and put them on.“What do you mean?” She asked as she turned back to look at me, her eyes confused.“Because we're done. Don't get me angry. Just leave,” I didn't look back at her.Suddenly, I felt hands slide around my waist and Elena was pressed against my back, her naked body touching mine.“I know I did really well today, so why are you chasing me away so soon? We could always go again if you want,”“What part of the word leave do you not understand? You said you wanted me to relieve tension, so I agreed to do what you wanted, but that did nothing but make me even angrier than I was before and now you have the audacity to say that?” I shouted at her.“You better leave before I do something I regret!”Elena squeaked and jumped away from me, quickly putting on her clothes and leaving me alone in the offic
EDENTWO MONTHS LATERI never believed that I would be able to escape Roman’s custody. I had thought that I would end up being kept prisoner and have my child taken away from me, but thankfully I hadn't been discovered… yet. I had found a place to rent for a surprisingly cheap amount of money, something I hadn't expected to get at a place as bustly as New York, but I was happy about it. Even though it was small, I would rather stay there than with Roman. I was eating better, sleeping so peacefully and I was able to go out without having to fear that my life was a disaster. I think I had even gained some weight. Which maybe had more to do with the pregnancy than anything. I was seated on the couch scrolling through my phone when I let out a laugh. I couldn't believe that I had managed to outsmart Roman and get as far as I did.I didn't think it was possible, but I tried and I succeeded. Even though I had to change my name and who I was, that was a small price to pay for my freedom a
THIRD PERSON POVWhile everyone back home was looking for Roman, he was on the other side of the town, looking through his pockets and swearing that he carried his phone.The minister noticed that he was distracted.“Is there anything you need? Are you looking for something?”Roman looked up.“Yes, I'm sure that I carried my phone but now, I can't find it.”Roman knew that he would have gotten so many calls. He'd left the house very early and no one knew where he was.He didn't take any guard with him either.“Maybe it fell on the way."Of course, it did. With all those bullets raining on his head, why won't it fall out?It had been pure luck that he had escaped. He was almost at the minister's house when he noticed a car that he was sure he'd seen when he got off the highway.He'd rolled his eyes, not wanting to be involved in any of this today.“Can we do this in a week? I have something to do today.”What should he do now? He knew he couldn't avoid them.To make sure that he was ri
EDENIT was already seven pm and I still couldn't find him. I was ready and so was everyone else but he was nowhere to be found.I'd called him and so had Quinn but he wasn't picking up his calls at all.“Edem, are you sure he didn't tell you where he was going?”I thought back to last night and scrolled through our conversation.“No, I don't remember him saying anything about going anywhere. After I told him about the officiating minister, that was where the conversation ended. Nothing more happened.”Quinn came back.“His phone is switched off.”Wonderful, just great. Roman was missing on no other day than our wedding day.Where could he be? Even if he was stuck in traffic, he could at least pick up his phone.Or maybe he truly wasn't interested in getting married to me.But then he would have just said it then when I brought it up. Why didn't he say anything? He had the choice to reject me last night but he didn't.”Eden, don't worry. We'll find him in time for the wedding.”Alicia
EDENI woke up early that morning.Well, we didn't sleep after that.. we stayed up the entire night talking about everything we'd been through and it touched me.Eventually, I fell asleep on his shoulder and I didn't even know. I was sitting in his lap and I woke up on the bed.Alicia was standing above me .“Hey, wake up. Let's get you ready. Roman left the house really early this morning and I have to go back home to get a dress for myself. I mean, I can't wear this.”She had eye bags and her face was very dim. She has started crying again sometime during the night.”Alicia, sit down. We need to talk.”She was avoiding my eyes.“Eden, there's a lot to be done today. I mean, you don't even have a makeup artist or a hairstylist either. Your dress isn't here yet and the food isn't ready. There's a lot to be done.”I knew that all that wasn't truly her concern. She was just trying to avoid talking about me.“Alicia, please -”“Eden, there's no time. We need to get ready."I had to get
EDENWhen I finally got into the house later that night, I couldn't sleep so I just stared out the window at the stary night.Alicia had fallen asleep while feeding the kids so I would break the news to her tomorrow.I'd had to tell Quinn what had happened.“Really?! Was that why you were staring into the dark?””Yes, she was standing there. I'm not going to die, Quinn. I'm going to be here with my kids.”She pulled me in for a hug and held me tightly.“I'm so happy, Eden. You don't know how terrible I felt when you told me that. How can you die without watching your kids grow up?"I was just happy that I hadn't rushed to tell Roman anything that was going on.He was clearly exhausted because he didn't even wake up when I entered the room and when I got in the bed. I was equally so tired because I had spent a lot of time getting things ready today.My body was tired but my mind was still awake and buzzing.I was going to get married tomorrow. I should have told Quinn that we should ju
EDENWe got back home late that night.Mostly because we needed to pull ourselves so that we won't show that we've been crying.Everytime we finally stopped crying, Alicia started again and we started another whole process of consoling each other.“Please stop crying. I don't know what I'm going to do if you're like this.”She finally pulled herself together and we got into the car and drove back home.“Are you really not going to tell Roman?"“I don't have a plan to. I'm sorry, I just can't bring myself to tell him. He will be shattered, Alicia.”She still wasn't fine with it but she didn't say anything else until we got home.Alicia went into the house to check in on Roman and the kids while I went to the back of the house to check in on what Quinn was doing.She was actually on a chair and table with her legs up while eating everything she brought from the restaurant.“You seem to be enjoying yourself.”My voice frightened her.“Sorry about that.”“You guys surely took your time..
EDENWe'd ended up at a restaurant because the bar we wanted to go to was closed.Roman had already called me four times to ask Alicia questions about the twins and he sounded like he was about to lose it.“Let’s eat so much that we won't be able to walk again.”And that's what we did. I think we ordered everything in the menu and we basically had the chef at our call to make anything that we wanted.That was the first time I would be eating so much food in one day and it felt so good.“I don't think I can eat anymore. I'm so full.”Quinn had been the one to bring us here and now she was already full. Alicia's mood had changed and she wasn't speaking anymore.Quinn's phone rang and she stood up to answer it.“Alicia-”“What’s going on, Eden? And don't even tell me not to ask questions. Because you can't keep doing this. I'm your best friend. You have to be truthful.”What was sj to do at this point? I had no other choice than to tell her the truth.She deserved that much.“Balari came
EDENAlicia did come over that evening.And we stayed in the room throughout.“It’s fine. I'll take care of the kids. You guys just do what girls do. Whatever it is that you do.”Roman took the twins and left us.“What in the world happened? Why did you faint?"I acted like I had no idea what was going on.“I mean, I don't know. I just felt weak and tired and next thing I know, I'm waking up in a hospital.”“Woah, that is crazy.. but you're fine right? I mean, yorie okay?"“Yes, I'm fine.”I needed to change the topic.“Hey, about Henry, I've spoken to Roman about it and he had no idea that Henry wasn't home. He said he was going to help track him down.”I actually hadn't spoken to Roman about it but I just needed to say something that would make her forget about the previous topic.“Thank you. I just hope we won't have to go through everything we went through back then. He'll surely come back.”Surely, he will. He's probably just busy.Speaking of Roman doing things, I still needed t
EDENI'd come home the day after that. The doctor said that I was free and healthy to leave but I didn't feel free.“Why the long face? Aren't you happy to come home?”I turned to Roman who was driving.”Oh no, it's nothing like that. I'm just tired."What was the point of being happy when I knew what was coming? And I couldn't tell him. I didn't want him to feel responsible for it.Roman is very quick to blame himself and I didn't want him to. I should just die peacefully so that he would have the guts to move on from me.If I told him that it was because of him I was going to die, then I would mess things up.I recalled my last conversation with Balari.“Are you sure it's what you want, Eden? Men are not worth it. You can live with your kids and raise them in your own way. You don't have to do this.”But it seemed like the more we spoke about it, the more determined I was to do it.“I do, actually. I love Roman, I can't let him die for something he has no hand in.”“And you have a
EDENWhen I woke up, it was dark.Why was it dark and where was I? I knew this wasn't my room, and it surely didn't smell like this.I tried to move my hand and when I saw the IV line shake, I sighed. The hospital.How did I end up here and why didn't I remember anything?Me being here meant that something had happened to me but for the life of me, I couldn't bring myself to. I felt so weak so I just relaxed in my bed.I didn't even have the strength to call for help and eventually, I slept.The next time I woke up, the sun was out thankfully and my eyes didn't feel as heavy as a boulder.My stomach was hurting badly, partly the fact that I hadn't eaten in a day and half. I needed food or else I might actually die this time around..I sat up in my bed, clutching my stomach tightly. I also needed to pee. I've never been to the hospital before.Roman was born in the pack and Belle?Well, Belle was born at home because I had no idea I was in labor and since Alicia and I had never been mo